WordPress on DiscountASP *is* possible (Rube Goldberg style)

[EDIT: We offer MySQL databases now, so this remote database workaround is no longer necessary.]

If anyone cares, it is possible to get WordPress running on DASP without jumping through a lot of hoops, despite DASP no longer supporting mySQL.

I'm not a PHP dev, I'm solidly in the .NET camp, but I was able to get it working with minimal headaches by just doing the 5 minute install of WordPress and then setting up at MySQL database on Amazon's RDS (MySQL in the cloud). It's dirt cheap, solid and works without any problems (so far).

 

Yeah, a remote MySQL database (wherever you run it) should work without any problems.

--

Anything "in the cloud" is hype (a database server is a database server...where is the "cloud," exactly? Oh, that's right, we used to call it the internet!) but if it's cheap and it works, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

tbrooks you have mail!

I (and i'm sure many others who know little about .asp) would be grateful if you gave instructions on how you achieved this eg which WP files had to be changed etc as, correct me if i'm wrong, but it sounds as if you installed wordpress then setup external db - i thought that WP could not be installed unless it had db & directory info so i assume that these would have to be created first unless you are fortunate to use 'fantastico' or equivalent, not available here on dasp then I know its a breeze to install.

Thanks in advance

Nelly

 

I haven't set up WordPress lately, but I assume you could simply use the MySQL server address (host name or IP) in the WP configuration.

I'll try an install here using a remote MySQL database and see what the process is. It may take me a few days to get around to doing that though.

 

Okay, I've tested this and it's pretty easy, and it works fine. My database was 2000 miles from the web server here though, so admittedly the WordPress admin panel lagged a bit, but it wasn't slow enough to be an annoyance or anything.

You have to do two things; first, the target MySQL database has to be able to accept connections from your server here (a remote server). Your MySQL host can usually set that up for you, or if you use cPanel there is a "Remote MySQL" tool that lets you set it up yourself.

In the WordPress install there is only one thing you have to change, and that is this part:

/** MySQL hostname */
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');​

of the wp-config.php file. 'localhost' has to be set to the MySQL server IP or hostname (I tried it both ways) and possibly the MySQL port. Like so:

define('DB_HOST', 'example.com:3306');​

or:

define('DB_HOST', '224.234.244.254:3306');​

In those examples, "example.com" and "224.234.244.254" are the hostname and IP of the server the MySQL database lives on.

The rest of the db variables in wp-config.php you will get from the MySQL host; username, password, etc.

 

Managed to connect to external db using instructions as above, thanks (was a bit of lag but can live with that)...but after what appeared to be a successful wordpress install in a sub directory-

1) I could not log in with the credentials that i submitted - error user name or pw incorrect

2) My site seemed to slow down, loading etc

3) logged into external db and no data entered in email & user password as there should be - done a reset to no avail

4) Removed wordpress from site - all back to normal

Can any one throw light on any of the above?

Thanks

 

Hmm, I deleted the test install I did, but it seems odd that a WP install in a subdir would slow down other (non-WP) parts of your site...I can't think of any reason for that...

 

I've done it all then I started the Wordpress installation process (domain.com/wp-admin/install.php). I chose the name of my blog and the email but installation stop in the next step.

It barely rendered the next page and I can't do anything. See picture below.

I checked my MySql database and all the tables (11 total) were created successfully but the Wordpress wasn't properly installed. If I try again, it says that the installation was completed which is not true. Then I drop all the database and start the process again.. and the same thing happen.

Do you know what's going on? Is it configuration? Can I try something else?

 

Sorry, not sure what to tell you since the test install worked over here. If the db tables were set up you know your connection string is working, so I'm afraid I don't know. You might check the WordPress forums and see if anyone else has reports of the setup failing in the same place.

 

Wordpress on Microsoft

Since Wordpress is now available in the Microsoft Web Platform Installer (see here: Wordpress on Microsoft and since there is a Microsoft SQL Server driver for PHP, AND PHP 5.2 is installable via the Web Platform Installer, is there ANY chance this could be made available for DASP users, since it is all supported by MS at this point?

I have no desire to use MySQL, but if I can use WordPress on my DASP site, and have it connect to my DASP SQL Server db, that would be wonderful.

Any chance of this happening?

 

Afraid not. That method uses SQL Server Express, which we do not support (and which Microsoft does not recommend for shared hosting).

Not to mention that that is not a WordPress distribution. It's a hacked distribution (or patch) from visitmix.com. Personally, I wouldn't use any WP hacks or patches, but that's just me. What happens when it's abandoned or an exploit is introduced? WordPress isn't going to help, because it's not their code.

I understand wanting to use WordPress, but it's not a good fit here in it's current form.

 

Understood (and I can't blame you). Thanks for the reply.

 

Alternative blogging platform?

Can you suggest an alternative blogging platform that would be well suited to the DiscountASP.Net environment?

 

You could use BlogEngine, which is pretty good I think. You can use it with MSSQL or with XML as your storage, which both are good options. I know there's more but I can't remember for the life of me.

 

WordPress might be a much better fit very soon. That's all I can say about it at this moment though...

 

It would be great to have the option to host WP here On DASP - does that mean we will have the option to a MySql db addon soon?

Nelly

 

Yes.

But don't tell anyone that I told you.

Coming soon, but I can't give you a date just yet.

 

Oh gawd, please tell me its coming. I just bought a remote hosted mysql database and now im having issues with it (or is it wordpress?)

Wordpress is failing on step 2, which is a blank page. It connects to the remote mysql database, but creates blank tables in the schema. (null data); therefore, wordpress does not work

 

I suggest waiting just a little longer........

 

As soon as it gets here, I have a site to move over here.

 

Projected launch is next week.

I saw your other post where the database host blames it on the php implementation here, but that doesn't make any sense to me.

The php installation isn't going to do anything that tells the database to create NULL data - the install script sets the table parameters and creates any default data.

It's difficult to troubleshoot a database-only account unless you have command line access. The easiest thing to do would be to delete your WP installation and try downloading it again. A corrupt file in the installation could stop everything dead like that.

 

MySQL is available on all DiscountASP.NET accounts now.

 

mjp--

I have added some information to the original thread to help debug.
http://community.discountasp.net/showthread.php?t=11802

In the mean time, I would like to trial a new mySQL database from discountasp.net and re-install WordPress to ensure that this will work before I spend the money (with my account, I have to buy a year up front)

Please get in touch with me nick AT lead2crm.com